Gov. Brown was right to sign vaccination bill

July 1, 2015Updated: July 1, 2015 4:11pm

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press

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Jennifer Wonnacott hold she son Gavin as he points to a sign showing supporte of a measure requiring nearly all California school children to be vaccinated, at a news conference after the bill was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Tuesday, June 30, 2015, in Sacramento,Calif. The bill, SB277, which was in response to a measles outbreak in Disneyland last year, gives California one of the toughest vaccination laws in the country.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) less

Jennifer Wonnacott hold she son Gavin as he points to a sign showing supporte of a measure requiring nearly all California school children to be vaccinated, at a news conference after the bill was signed by ... more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press

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FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2015, file photo, pediatrician Dr. Charles Goodman vaccinates 1 year- old Cameron Fierro with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR vaccine at his practice in Northridge, Calif. California's Assembly on Thursday, June 25, 2015, approved a hotly contested bill requiring that nearly all public schoolchildren be vaccinated, clearing one of its last major legislative obstacles before the measure heads to the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill aims to increase immunization rates after a measles outbreak linked to Disneyland in December sickened over 100 people in the U.S. and Mexico. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) less

Gov. Jerry Brown is known for taking his time in signing or vetoing legislation. He takes pride in both the level of his deliberation and his readiness to reject even good ideas that do not necessarily require a new law.

So it was no small surprise that the governor acted within 24 hours of receiving SB277, the intensely debated measure that would give California one of the nation’s strictest laws requiring children to be vaccinated before entering school or day care.

The bill obviously was prompted by the measles outbreak that started at Disneyland in December. While that outbreak was relatively contained — more than 100 people were infected in California — it called attention to the risk posed by the growing number of parents who have opted out of vaccinations for their children.

Under the bill signed by Brown this week, personal and religious beliefs will no longer be allowed as acceptable exemptions to vaccinations that are critical to preventing contagious diseases. The governor emphasized that the new law will continue to allow exceptions for medical reasons.

Vaccinations and the law

Some parents who opposed SB277 had suggested they would be forced to homeschool their children if it became law. That would be their loss. Perhaps now they will have a chance to review the research that clearly shows that the vaccination risk is low and the public health benefit is extraordinary.